Scott Derrickson in Talks to Direct Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE

Marvel still may be without a director for Ant-Man (which is scheduled for release in a little over a year), but the studio has found its Doctor Strange director. We learned a few months ago that a number of filmmakers were in the running to take the helm of the comics adaptation, including Warm Bodies helmer Jonathan Levine, Brave director Mark Andrews, and horror filmmaker Scott Derrickson. It now appears that the latter is the choice to take on the gig, as the director behind Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose is in talks to bring Doctor Strange to fruition. Hit the jump for more.

Per Variety, Scott Derrickson is in talks to direct the comics adaptation Doctor Strange for Marvel. Derrickson is a solid choice, as he has experience helming larger fare like The Day the Earth Stood Still remake, but in particular his handle of mood and atmosphere in Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose is incredibly strong. His latest film, the supernatural thriller Deliver Us from Evil, arrives in theaters next month.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has been keen on getting a Doctor Strange movie off the ground for some time now, hinting that it would be one of the films slated for Marvel’s Phase Three. For those unfamiliar with the character, Strange is a former neurosurgeon who, after a car accident, loses the ability to use his hands. After exhausting every option to restore his health, Strange locates “the Ancient One” in the Himalayas who reluctantly teaches him the mystic arts. If Thor and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy are aimed at introducing audiences to more sci-fi aspects of the Marvel universe, Doctor Strange will undoubtedly be delving into mysticism.

Variety notes that if a deal makes, Marvel and Derrickson will begin searching for an actor to fill the lead role. Rumors swirled that Johnny Depp was interested/meeting/signed on to play Strange over the past few years, but those have thus far gone unfounded. We’ll likely learn more about the project at Comic-Con this summer. Derrickson confirmed the news with a tweet, included below.